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ICTA embraces opportunity to mould Kenyan students to strengthen the digital economy
Kenya’s ICT Authority (ICTA) is embracing the opportunity to mould Kenyan students, starting from primary school up to their early…
Kenya’s ICT Authority (ICTA) is embracing the opportunity to mould Kenyan students, starting from primary school up to their early twenties, in a bid to strengthen the country’s digital economy. The authority aims to do this through its education programs such as the Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) and the Presidential Digitalent (PDTP).
Through such programs the authority will be aiming to:
- Give the students 21st century skills – that they will need to transform Kenya into a digital economy:
- Give students proper values – the digital economy is a trust economy as it is a virtual economy whereby people will deal with others based on trust and thus is important for students to have both skills and values;
- To create the tendency towards action.
“We have in our hands on a generation, starting with the digital literacy program; so, children from age six are in the hands of the ICT Authority (close to three million students) and we want to continue training and mentoring these young people until they are in their early twenties,” said Dr. Katherine Getao, ICT Authority CEO, during Presidential Digitalent stakeholders’ breakfast.
Digital Literacy Programme
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The Digital Literacy Programme (DLP) that was initiated by the government of Kenya in 2016 is at the tail end of its first phase and the second phase to start in July 2019.
Branded DigiSchool, the programme was born out of the Government of Kenya’s vision to make sure every pupil is prepared for today’s digital world.
The programme introduces primary school children, beginning with those in lower primary, to the use of digital technology and communications in learning.
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Presidential Digitalent
The Presidential Digital Talent Programme (PDTP) on the other hand, takes fresh and qualified ICT graduates through an internship programme designed to build their ICT capabilities, ready for the ICT market.
The interns are placed both in Government Ministries (10 months) and in the private sector (2 months) during the programme giving them a holistic understanding of how ICT works both in the public and private sectors.
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This exposure helps the interns to acquire and apply ICT skills for effective service delivery, and efficient implementation of projects.
Apart from the technical aspects of the internship, the interns are also mentored on leadership skills and innovative thinking.
After the programme, the interns emerge as talented and well-rounded individuals with a clear career progression path in the ICT sector and make valuable additions to any company.
“Businesses can reap big from this pool of talented individuals who are well prepared for the needs of the ICT sector. In addition, businesses can participate in the PDTP as partners by offering internship positions to the graduates.” Dr. Getao concluded.